RAF Coningsby played an integral part in the strategic bombing campaign of WWII. With the average age of aircrew being barely 21, the conflict demanded unimaginable dedication. The human experience of this colossal effort is told through the experiences of squadron and station personnel, those who survived and those who paid the ultimate price.
Drawing largely on Bomber Command's operational records, 'RAF Coningsby in the Second World War' charts the wartime history of Royal Air Force Coningsby through the contributions of squadron and station personnel. From the start of operational flying in March 1941, the output of all flying units is set against the phases of the strategic bombing campaign. The punitive attacks of 1941 and escalating efforts of 1942 are considered in light of inadequate aircraft and difficulties in target identification. From August 1943, the constant effort to improve accuracy is seen through the efforts of 617 Squadron to breach the Dortmund-Ems Canal and precision targets across occupied France. The subsequent introduction of a Pathfinder Force within No. 5 Group defined all operations from D-Day to the armistice. These monumental events are described through the testimonies and experiences of Coningsby personnel. With accounts of survival and loss, imprisonment and bravery, this book measures the human cost of fighting Nazi Germany, a battle that took the lives of 1,096 Coningsby airmen.